Coal pusher



E. MARTIN COAL PUSHER July 3, 1951 Filed Dec. 11, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. f L/6E/VE Myer/1v E. MARTIN COAL PUSHER July 3, 1951 4 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Dec. 11, 1946 INVENTOR. fuss/v5 Mean/v E. MARTIN COAL PUSHER July 3, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 11, 1946 INVENTOR. EUGENE MflET/N 0 um \Q 0 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 E. MARTIN COAL PUSHER IN V EN TOR. EDGE-NE finer/1v m n vm Wm g g E4 July 3, 1951 Filed Dec. 11, 1946 Patented July 3, 19 51 UNITED STATE-S ATENT OFFICE 2559541 GOAL PUSHER Eugene Martin;

Wesleyville, Pa-., assignor'to-R'ea'd Standard Corporation, a corporation 'offDela ware Application December 11, 13.46, Serial No 715,495 9 Cl'aims; (Cl. 198-224 within-convenient reach of the firemanor' to deliver it to the trougfiofthe tender unit of a mechanical stoker.

An object ofthe present invention is to -provide an improved coalpusher-and operating mocha-- nism therefor, sdconstructed and arranged in a tender to makeit conveniently accessible; readily adaptable for application-totenders of different designs; so'located as-not to obstruct access to the coal bin; and arranged to be protected from injury by coal 'a's the'latteris loaded onto the tender. Y

Another object of the invention is to provide improved actuating meansfor a material-pushing device, and more specifically improved hydraulic actuating means for a locomotive tender coal pusher including a fluid motorcylinder and piston housed in and operative-1y connected with the pusher element andfiuid pressure generating and distributing means including a turbine, pumpand fluid pressure distributing valve mounted outside thetender coal. bin. and connected: through: piping with. the motor. cylinder of the pusher element.

Another; object of the inventionis to provide a coal pusher that occupies. a minimumof. space in a tender fuel bin and that is efiective over a maximum area of the rear slope sheetiof. the bin for pushing coal forward.

Another object. of the invention is toprovide improved means for automatically reversing the direction of. movement of the pusher'elements of areciprocable material pushing appliance when the piston connected with. the pusher element reachesthe end of its stroke 'in the power cylinderl Another objectof the invention is to provide a novel and improved pusher. unit embodying an actuating fluid cylinder and that is compact, durable and. efiicient. in use; and inwhich the parts are readily accessible for repairs. or replacement. r

It has been customary in coal pushersfor locomotive tender fuel bins to provide a plurality of pusherunits operating. concurrently irrespective of the extent to. which the bin is. fil1ed.' Thus when the bin is filled to the extent that all the pusher units are covered with coal, considerable power must be applied to move the pusher elements through the head of'coal. It is, therefore, another object of this invention to provide a. coal 2- pusher inwhich; the-load, or starting load; on the motive power of the pusher=isreduce[dwhen'the coal in the bincovers all the pusher'umts-i "More specifically, the invention-pertains tdan-improvedcoa1 pusher in which the rear pusher member may be rendered inoperativewhile the-front pusher member operates to particularly the-static advance coal 'in' the bingandwhen the forward edge o'f-the'coa1 supply has receded to a point Where the front pusher. no longer'moves an ade quate amount of coal "forward; the rear-pusher unit maybe placed iii-operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide improveddi'stri-butihg and automaticreverse valve mechanism for controlling thefi'ow oi the operating fluid to and fromthe power cylinders of the tender coa'l p'usher units.

With theseand-"btherobjects inview, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement" and combination of parts, as will be understood fromthe prefer-redand practicaliembodim'entofi' the invention hereinafter described and illustrated: in the. accompanying drawings; inwhich Figure 1 is aplan view ofa portion of'a locomotive tender with the'novel co'alpusher applied thereto, the cover'for. thecylihder housing of: the rear: pusher memb er being-removed;

Figure: 2 is. a: sectional view taken on the irregularline 2*2 of Figure- 1- witha portion ofthe cylinderiof. therear pusher member brokenaway; Figure: 3' is an enlarged sectional view taken ojnxtheiirregularlihe 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional: view taken onxthe -1ine14 .4- of Figure- 1 Figure5 is;a=.sectionaliviewtaken onthe line 5;-5 of-.Eigure 2;.

Figure. 6 isla sectional viewof the distributing andf reverse valve. mechanismtaken on the" line 6+6: of Eigurezii;

Figurefl is asectional view ofthe distributing and reverse valve mechanism turned'90 degrees from:thelposition shown in Figure 6;and l Figure=8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-4;: of Figure 7;

In the drawings the tender is'shown as having the usual 'fuel bi'n i O; and the water compartment H located back of and beneath the same. The novel-- coal pus-her is mounted inthe tender and includes the pusher'units I 2 and I3 which are adapted to 'reciprocate'over wearing plates 1 4an'd l5;.respective1y, thatoverlie'the slope sheet iii of the tender. The pusherunits i2 and: it" are sirni lar in construction, so that in the followihs dfiscriptiohi when descri ing the parts of on pusher unit, it is to be understood that the description applies as well to the other pusher unit.

The pusher unit I2 comprises a central longitudinally extending housin I'I having side walls I8 and I9, a rear wall 28 and front wall 2|, as best shown in Figures 2 and 4. A plurality of crossheads or pusher heads 22, 23 and 24 are formed with and project laterally from the housing I1 and function to push coal forwardly in the bin. The housing II of the pusher unit I2 is open at its bottom and top and is provided with a removable cover 25 forming a closure for the open top. The cover 25 is provided with a plurality of spaced transversely extending ribs or abutments 9 serving as auxiliary coal pushing means.

An operating cylinder 26 for the pusher unit I2 is disposed within the housing H, the lower portion thereof preferably projecting through a longitudinal opening 2'! formed in the rear slope sheet I8 and wearing plate in Figures 2 and 4. The wearing plate I5 and slope sheet I6 are provided with a similar opening 28 through which the operating cylinder of the pusher unit I3 projects. A well 29 formed by a longitudinally extending water tight casing 30 secured to the under side of the slope sheet I6 surrounds the openings 21 and 28 and forms a housing for the projecting portions of the cylinders and the piping to the cylinders. While the cylinders do not necessarily have to project through the openings 21 and 28, this construction is preferred since it permits reduction in the overall height of the housing I! of pusher unit I2 and the similar housing of pusher unit I3.

Along each side of the opening 21 in the wearing plate I4 and slope sheet I6 extend superimposed spacer bars 3| and 32, the lower bars 3| being rigidly secured, as by welding, to the wearing plate I4. The cylinder 26 is rigidly secured in place by means of studs 33 that extend through the cylinder flanges 34, the upper spacer bars 32 and into the lower spacer bars 3|. As shown in Figure 4, the upper spacer bars 32 project laterally outward a distance beyond the lower spacer bars 3 I, thereby forming a guideway for the flanges 35 formed with and extending inwardly of the lower edge of the sidewalls I8 and I9 of the cylinder housing IT. The spacer bars 3| and 32 thus form a guideway for the pusher unit I2 durin its reciprocating movement and restrain movement of the pusher unit I2 away from the wearing plate I4.

The operating means for effecting reciprocating movement of the pusher unit I2 includes, in addition to the cylinder 26, removable rear and front cylinder heads 36 and 31, respectively, a piston head 38 fitted in the cylinder 26, and a piston rod 39 which is secured at one end to the piston head 38 and projects through a stufiing box 46 formed with the front cylinder head 31, the projecting end of the piston rod 39 being operatively connected to the front wall 2| of the pusher housing II, in the manner to be described. A saddle 4| formed on the inner surface of the front wall 2| of housing 11 is provided with a semi-circular recessed seat 42. The seat 42 is arranged-to receive a collar 43 secured to the forward end of the piston rod 39. Thus when the piston 38 and rod 39 move forward, the collar 43 pushes against the front wall 2| moving the pusher housing I'I forward across the wearing plate I4, and when the piston 38 and rod 48 move rearward, the collar 43 pushes against the lip 44 of the saddle 4| moving the pusher housing I! rearward across the wearing plate I4. From the above description, it is evident that upon removal of the cover 25 and the bolts 33, the cylinder 26 and its associated parts can be inserted in or removed from the housing H of pusher unit I2 without dismantling other parts of the pusher device.

Fluid under pressure, preferably oil, for operating the piston 38 is supplied to the cylinder 26 of the pusher unit I2 through pipes 45 and 46 which serve alternately as intake and return lines to and from their respective sides of the piston 38.

I4, all as-best shown Similarly, the pipes 41 and 48 lead to the cylinder of the pusher unit I3, serving alternately as intake and return lines to and from their respective sides of the cylinder piston.

The oil reservoir 49, the motive power including the turbine 50 and pump 5I, and the automatic operating and distributing valve 52 are mounted on the top wall 53 of the tank II. Steam for operating the turbine is supplied from the locomotive boiler through intake pipe 54 and is exhausted from the turbine through pipe 55. The valve (not shown) for controlling the flow of steam to the turbine may be located in the locomotive cab or at some point in the tender conveniently accessible to the fireman. The turbine 50 operates the pump 5| which supplies fluid to the cylinders of the pusher units I2 and I3 for moving the pistons, the fluid behind the pistons returning to the reservoir 49. The pump 5| forces fluid from the reservoir 49 through the delivery pipe 55 to the intake port 57 of the distributing valve 52 and a return pipe 58 carries the fluid back to the reservoir 49 from the return port 59 of the valve 52.

A pair of lines 68 and 6| lead from the distributing valve 52 toward the cylinders of the pusher units I2 and I3, and function alternately as fluid supply and fluid return lines. The lines 88 and 6| are branched, respectively, at 62 and 83, as may be seen by referring to Figures 2 and 5. Line 68 branches into pipes 45 and 41 which, as previously stated, communicate respectively, with one side of the cylinder pistons of respective pusher units I2 and I3. Line 6| branches into pipes 46 and 48, which communicate, respectively, with the opposite side of the cylinder pistons of respective pusher units I2 and I3. In the pipes 45 and 46, which lead to the cylinder of the rear pusher unit I2, there is preferably interposed a cut-01f valve 64 for interrupting the flow of fluid through the pipes 45 and 46, whereby the rear pusher unit I2 may be rendered inoperative while permitting continued operation of the front pusher unit I3. Any suitable means may be provided for operating the valve 64, that shown including a rod 65 extending transversely of the tender from the valve 64 to one side of the tender, and a rod 66 extending longitudinally of the tender to the forward end thereof, the rods 65 and 68 being connected by a bell crank lever 61. The forward end of the rod 86 is provided with a suitable operating handle (not shown) disposed for convenient manipulation by the fireman.

When both pusher units I2 and I3 are covered with coal, only the front pusher unit I3 need be operated in order to advance coal forwardly in the bin, and at such times the fireman may cut the rear pusher unit I2 out of operation in the manner and by the means described in the preceding paragraph. Then, when the forward edge of the coal supply has receded to a point where the front pusher unit I3 no longer moves an adeacsacar duateamount of coal forward, the fireman may place the rear pusher unit in operation.

Referring particularly to Figures 6, 7 and 8, the construction and operation of the distributing valve 52 which effects the alternate delivery of fluid to one side of the cylinder pistons of the pusher units l2 and I3 and the return of fluid from behind the pistons to the reservoir 49-, will now be described in detail. The distributing valve 52 includes a cylinder 88 provided at itsv ends with removable heads 69- and 18, and a slid-- ing hollow cylindrical valve member 1|. As pre-. viously pointed out, the valve 52 is provided with an intake port 51 through which fluid from the reservoir 49 enters the valve 52, and a return port 59 through which fluid passes on its return to the reservoir 49. In addition to the ports 51 and 59, the valve 52 is provided with the ports 12 and 13 for the passage of fluid to and from the cylinders of'the coal pusher units |2 and l3.

The opposite ends of the cylinder 88 are provided with ports 14 and 15 adapted to be opened or closed by the valve members 18 and 11, respectively. The valve members 16 and 11 are provided with stems 18 and 19, respectively, extending freely through transverse walls 88 and BI, respectively. The walls 88 and 8| form guides for the stems 18 and 19 and are provided, respectively, with a plurality of openings 82 and 83 for the passage of fluid. Springs 84 and 85 extend between the walls 88 and 8|, respectively, and the valve members 15 and 11, respectively, and normally retain the valve members 15 and 11 in their seated positions to close the ports 14 and 15, respectively.

A passage 86 provides communication between the port 14 and a port 81 which opens into the cylinder 68 at a point intermediate its ends. A similar passage 88 provides communication between the port 15 and a port 89 which also opens -1' into the cylinder 68 at a point intermediate its ends.

The sliding hollow cylindrical valve member 1| is provided with the three external annular cavities 98, 9| and 92 which are arranged to provide selective communication between various ports of the valve 52 in accordance with the position of the valve member 1|. At its ends, cylindrical valve member 1| is provided with the central bosses 93 and 94 connected to the cylindrical wall thereof by the webs 95 and 98, respectively. The bosses 93 and 94 are arranged to contact the ends of respective stems 18 and 19 of respective valve members 16 and 11, whereby movement of the valve members 16 and 11 is transmitted to the cylindrical valve member 1|.

In operation, with the cylindrical valve member 1| in the position as shown in Figures 6 and '7, pressure fluid from the pump 5| passes through pipe 56 and enters the distributing valve 52 through intake port 51. The stream of fluid after entering intake port 51 is divided, andzone of the divided streams of fluid passes through port 91, the annular cavity 98 of the cylindrical valve member 1|, as shown in Figure 7 and emerges from the distributing valve 52 through the port 13, as shown in Figure 6. At the same time the other of the divided streams of fluid passes through the passage 98, port 99, the annular cavity 92 of the cylindrical valve member 1|, as shown in Figure '1, thence it passes through port 89, the passage 88 to the port 15, as shown in Figure 6.

' The fluid emerging from port 13 passes through the pipe 6|, then as previously described, through thepipes- 46 and 48, asshown intFigures: I and;

into theforward. end of the cylinder 26of pusher unit l2 and the similar cylinder of: pusher-unit I'3'; The pressure fluid entering thecylinders. movesthe piston 38 of pusher unit I92, see Figure 2', and: the similar piston of pusher unit |3,v rear-= wardly, thereby moving the: pusher housing'fli of: pusher unit I2 and the similar housing of pusher; unit |3 rearwardly in the bin 0.

As the piston 38 and the similar piston of pusher unit- I 3 move rearwardl y, the fluid at the" rear of the pistons flowsthrough the pipes 45 and H then through pipe 60 and enters the distribut-- ingvalve 52 through port 12. The fluid then;

passes through the bore- I88 of the cylindrical-l valve member 1|, the port Hit of valvemember 1 annular cavity 9| and emerges through port 59 into the pipe 58 and returns to the reservoir- 49.

The piston 38" and the similar pistonv of pusher unit I 3 having reached the end of their stroke, the increased pressure of the fluid resulting from continued operation of the pump 5| causes the valve member 11 to open against the pressure of spring 85. Movement of the valve member 11 is. transmitted through the stem- 1 9 to the cylindrical valve member 1 I, moving the latter to its extreme opposite position in the cylinder 88. In the latter position of the cylindrical. valve member 1|, flow of fluid through the passage 88 is cut off and escape of fluid through the ports I02 and 83 in the valve member 11 and transverse wall 8|, respectively, relieves the pressure of the fluid in passage 88, thereby permitting the spring 85 to return the valve member 11 to its normal closedposition.

Also in the latter position of the cylindricalvalve member 1|, it will be seen that the fluid: entering the distributing valve 52 through port 51 is again divided into two streams, but the stream of fluid that passes through port 91 into the annular cavity 98, now emerges from the distributing valve 52 through the port 12 instead of the port 13, as in the previous position of the cylindrical valve member 1|. At the same time the other of the divided streams of fluid passing through passage 98, port 99 and annular cavity 92, now emerges through port 81 and passes through passage 86 to the port 14 instead of emerging through port 89 and passing through, passage 88 to the port 15.

The fluid emerging from port 12 passes through the pipe then through the pipes 45 and 41, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, into the rearward end of the cylinder 28 of pusher unit I2 and the similar cylinder of pusher unit l3. The pressure fluid entering the cylinders moves the piston 38 of pusher unit I2 and the similar piston of pusher unit |3 forward, thereby moving the pusher housing H of pusher unit, l2 and the similar housing 0 pusher unit l3 forward in the bin l0.

As the piston 38 and the similar piston of pusher unit [3 move forwardly, the fluid at the front of the pistons flows through the pipes 48 and 48, then through pipe 6| and enters the distributing, Valve 52 through port 13. The fluid then passes through annular cavity 9|, the port 59, and pipe 58, and returns to the reservoir 49.

When the piston 38 and the similar piston of pusher unit |3 have reached the forward end of their stroke, fluid pressure will build up in the passage 88 causing the valve member 16 to open against the pressure of spring 84. Movement of the valve member 16 is transmitted through the valve stem 18 to the cylindrical valve H, moving the latter to its original position in the cylinder 68. On opening of the valve member 16, fluid escapes through the ports I03 and 82 in the valve member 16 and transverse wall 80, respectively, relieving the pressure of the fluid in passage 86, thereby permitting the spring 84 to return the valve member 16 to its normal closed position.

It is evident then, that the distributing valve 52 functions to automatically reverse the direction of movement of the pusher housing 11 of pusher unit I2 and the similar housing of pusher unit 13, when the pistons contained in their respective motor cylinders have reached the ends of their stroke in either forward or rearward direction as long as the turbine 50 and pump 5| are permitted to operate.

Referring to Figure 3, a relief valve HM is preferably provided and is arranged to open at a predetermined pressure to permit fluid delivered by the pump 5| to pass through by-pass line I05 into the fluid return pipe 58 and back into the reservoir 49. Thus, if the pusher units l2 and I3 encounter some obstacle preventing their movement, or movement is impeded for any other reason, impairment of the pump and turbine is avoided.

Coal pushers in general use at present are operated by a reciprocating motor comprising a piston mounted in a cylinder to which steam is delivered from the locomotive boiler alternately to opposite sides of the piston. Since the steam pressure of the usual types of locomotives is between about 200 to 250 pounds, the cylinder for operating the coal pusher at that pressure is inches or more in diameter. In my improved hydraulic coal pusher, employing a pump capable of developing about 1,000 pounds pressure, a pusher operating cylinder of about 6%, inches in diameter may be employed. These figures are merely illustrative and a smaller or larger diameter cylinder may be used depending on the pressure developed by the pump selected.

It is evident then, that using the same source of steam, a relatively small size cylinder may be employed in my hydraulic operated pusher as compared with the conventional cylinder employed in present steam cylinder operated pushers, thus encroaching less on the coal space in the tender bin.

While in the preferred form of my invention as illustrated in the drawings and described above, the cylinder for operating the pushers is mounted in a housing within the pusher units, it

is apparent that the cylinder may be mounted on the upper end of the slope sheet and its piston rod operatively connected with a pusher member or a plurality of connected pusher members as shown in Patent No. 1,747,899 issued February 18, 1930 to F. Hogg.

I claim:

1. A coal pusher for a locomotive tender fuel bin, including a coal pushing member mounted for reciprocation over a fuel supporting wall of said bin, a hydraulic fluid pressure operated motor cylinder for actuating said pushing member and mounted in said pushing member, a source of hydraulic fluid pressure mounted on the tender without said bin, and means forming a hydraulic circuit with said source and said cylinder.

2. A coal pusher for a locomotive tender fuel bin, including a pushing member mounted for reciprocation over a fuel supporting wall of said 8- bin, a fluid pressure operated motor cylinder for actuating said pusher member, said cylinder being housed in said pushing member, a source of fluid pressure mounted on the tender without said bin, and means connecting said source of fluid pressure with said motor cylinder.

3. A coal pusher for a locomotive tender fuel bin, said bin having a slotted fuel supporting Wall and a casing on the underside of said wall embracing the slotted portion thereof, a pushing member mounted for reciprocation over said wall, a fluid pressure operated motor cylinder for actuating said pushing member, said cylinder being housed in said pushing member, a source of fluid pressure mounted on the tender without said bin, and means extending through said casing and slotted wall connecting said source of fluid pressure with said motor cylinder.

4. A coal pusher adapted to be mounted on the tender of a locomotive, comprising a pusher member mounted for reciprocation in the bin of said tender, means for operating said pusher member including a hydraulic cylinder mounted in said pusher member, a piston mounted for reciprocation within said cylinder, a connection between said piston and said pusher member for transmitting reciprocating motion thereto, a pump, means forming a hydraulic circuit with said pump and cylinder, valve mechanism in said circuit for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from the opposite sides of said piston for effecting reciprocating movement thereof, and means for operating said pump.

5. A coal pusher adapted to be mounted on the tender of a locomotive, comprising a plurality of pusher members mounted for reciprocation in the bin of said tender, means for operating said pusher members including a hydraulic cylinder mounted in each of said pusher members, a piston mounted in each of said cylinders for reciprocation therein, a connection between each of said pistons and a respective pusher member for transmitting reciprocating motion thereto, a pump, means forming a hydraulic circuit with said pump and said cylinders, valve mechanism in said circuit for controlling the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from the opposite sides of said pistons for effecting reciprocating movement thereof, and means for operating said pump. 7

6. A material pushing device including a housing and pusher members projecting laterally from said housing, said housing and pusher members being adapted to reciprocate over a material supporting wall, a motor cylinder in said housing stationarily mounted with respect to said supporting wall, a piston mounted for reciprocation within said cylinder, a connection between said piston and said housing for transmitting reciprocating motion from said piston to said housing, and means for alternately supplying pressure fluid to and exhausting pressure fluid from the opposite ends of said cylinder for operating said piston.

'7. A material pushing device including a housing and pusher members projecting laterally from said housing, said housing and pusher members being adapted to reciprocate over a material supporting wall, a motor cylinder in said housing stationarily mounted with respect to said supporting wall, a piston mounted for reciprocation within said cylinder, a connection between said piston and said housing for transmitting reciprocating motion from said piston to said housing, a fluidcircuit for conducting fluid to and from each end of said cylinder, and. a valve in said circuit for alternately reversing the direction of flow of fluid in said circuit at the end of each stroke of said piston.

8. A material pushing device comprising a housing adapted to receive means for actuating said pushing device, said housing having side walls and an open top and bottom, a removable cover for said open top, said cover having raised transversely extending pushing abutments, and a plurality of pusher members projecting laterally from said housing.

9. A material pushing device comprising a housing, pusher members projecting laterally from said housing, said housing and pusher members being adapted to reciprocate over a material supporting surface, a fluid motor cylinder in said housing stationarily mounted with respect to the supporting wall, a piston mounted for reciprocation in said cylinder, a connection between said piston and said housing for transmitting 10 reciprocating movement from the piston to the housing, and means to supply operating fluid to said cylinder.

EUGENE MARTIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

